‘Ask for help’: Dad issues plea to those suffering after his son died by suicide

THE father of the late Matthew Mullahy has urged anyone who is suffering to ‘ask for help’.

Speaking at his son’s funeral today (Wednesday), Seán Mullahy appealed to people suffering mentally to seek help from family or local support services, even inviting anyone in the congregation having trouble to call to his door if they felt the need.
His son, Matthew, took his own life over the weekend.
Addressing ‘the young people’, Seán said: “Suicide isn’t pretty, and there is no glamour to it. Of all that your mums and dads told you is not allowed, I tell you, it is not allowed.
“In a world where we hear it preached constantly, ask for help. Just ask for help. It really isn’t complicated. The difficulty in asking for help is, who do we turn to?
“Your first port of call, always, is to the ones who love you most, and that is your parents. And if, for any reason, you can’t articulate to them, you go to a trusted adult.
“We heard reference today to Pieta House, the Samaritans, The Family Centre [in Castlebar], and Mayo Mental Health [Association]. And if all of these fail, you come down and you knock on my door.”
Seán paid tribute to the ‘incredible’ helped he and his family had received since Matthew’s passing.
He said that he had ‘never seen such dignity’ displayed by the ‘hundreds of young people’ who called to their home in recent days.
“If we had half the ways about us when we were your age, we’d have a different world. And for that reason, I can tell you, that I know that the future is in safe hands,” he added.
Seán received a sustained round of applause following his remarks.

Outpouring of grief
Fr Shane Costello, who concelebrated the Mass alongside six other priests, said a ‘massive outpouring of grief’ had greeted Matthew’s passing in the community.
“His life had immense value, and that makes then his death all the more distressing,” said Fr Costello.
“As I said at the beginning, tragic death is never easy, but a death by suicide has a particularly devastating impact on the family and on community. It rattles us to the core. It numbs us into silence and causes emotions and feelings to swell up inside us that we find difficult to understand or deal with.
“To all of Matthew’s friends from school or from work, so many of you are here, you are going through a loss which is unimaginably difficult, and it is one thing that you shouldn’t have to go through.
“You may have many questions, but do not linger on the ‘whys’ or ‘what ifs’. You may feel a sadness that’s impossible to put into words.
“In the face of tragedy, we always need the help of parents, and our friends. And sometimes, if our sadness is profound, we need professional help, and there is no shame in that. Please know that there is always help available from services such as Pieta and the Samaritans.
“Locally in the town we have the family centre, right across the road, or Mayo Mental Health services on New Antrim Street. No one should suffer from silence, and no one should have to go through what the Mullahy family are going through now.
“So be sensitive to the needs of others and look after yourself and look after each other, because every life is precious, precious to your families, precious to the community, and above all, so precious to God.”

Talented sportsman
Matthew was described as an ‘unassuming young man who knew what he was about, and it was obvious he was one whose company people naturally people naturally gravitated towards’.
The former St Gerald’s College student, Matthew completed his Leaving Certificate last year, had been working locally as an apprentice electrician.
He was also described as ‘a very talented, keen sportsman’ who played with both Castlebar Celtic and Castlebar Mitchels. Both clubs paid tribute to him publicly in recent days.
Matthew was also an avid follower of Liverpool Football Club and had travelled to see the club play at Anfield a number of months ago.
The club’s famous anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was played during his Funeral Mass.
He has been laid to rest in Castlebar New Cemetery.
Matthew will be deeply missed by his mother, Grace; his father, Seán; his brother, Conor; his granny, Ena; his uncles, aunts and many cousins, and his large circle of friends. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Pieta can be contacted on by calling 1800 247 247 or texting ‘HELP’ to 51444, while Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123.